Almost immediately after Ken Niumatalolo decided to remain Navy's coach by turning down BYU's offer, the next pressing issue moved to center stage.

Quarterback Keenan Reynolds, a four-year starter and one of the most dynamic offensive players in the nation last season, graduated, leaving the wide gap at the most important position on the field. Who would replace him?

The answer is senior Tago Smith. Navy football historians will now forever place his name in the company of John Cartwright, the quarterback who took over for Roger Staubach in 1965.

"We feel very fortunate to have [Smith] coming back," Niumatalolo said Monday on the American Athletic Conference's weekly teleconference. "He's a guy who has been in our system. We've watched Keenan perform at a high level over the years. … [Smith] has waited patiently for this opportunity and has worked hard to make the most of it. He's had a great camp and hopefully our offense will continue to do well."

Smith has played in 18 games with two starts. He rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns and threw for two against Texas State when Reynolds could not play in 2014. Smith had another start against Virginia Military Institute later in that season and gained 106 yards rushing with two touchdowns.

Last season, Smith basically watched as a healthy Reynolds rolled through the season. The only exception came against Notre Dame when he was thrust into action to lead the Midshipmen to two scoring drives by the end of the first half.

"The quarterback is the cog that makes everything go," Niumatalolo said. "Tago is excited to show what he can do. We're counting on him to do well."

Navy's season begins Saturday against Fordham, which finished second in the Patriot League last season.

Houston does not have a quarterback problem. Greg Ward Jr. is back to help the Cougars try to improve their 7-1 conference record and AAC championship.

Ward threw for 2,828 yards, rushed for 1,100 and accounted for 38 total touchdowns, a performance that was capped by Houston's win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl when Ward joined Clemson's Deshaun Watson as the only players in college football to throw for more than 2,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 last season.

"What do I think about him? How much time do you have?" Cougars coach Tom Herman said. "He's a marry-your-daughter kind of kid. I wish my daughter was a little bit older. … He's a great leader. His teammates like him, but they also respect him. And respect is a lot more important when you are trying to lead."

Herman said Ward received 106 of 108 possible votes for team captain.

"I kind of want to know who the two guys were that didn't vote for him," Herman said. "In the classroom, in the community, the kid does everything you could ask of him."

Ward was slowed by an ankle injury the day UConn beat the Cougars last season. That loss likely cost Houston a chance at the College Football Playoff.

Houston, ranked No. 15 nationally, opens this season Saturday at home against No. 3 Oklahoma at NRG Stadium in Houston, home of the NFL's Texans. It's one of only four games between nationally ranked teams this week.

"If we beat Oklahoma on Saturday, Mike Aresco [commissioner of the AAC] is not going to jog out to midfield and hand us the conference trophy," Herman said.

Diaco Pleased With Camp

UConn's Bob Diaco reiterated Monday how happy he has been with safety Obi Melifonwu, considered the next likely NFL player to come out of the program.

"He's a special, special talent," Diaco said. "We anticipate a year that's a direct correlation to his preparation. Opponents and then America will have a chance to see him; he's not much of a household name to this point. But he will be. He works hard. He's taking the extra mile. He's always been an exceptional talent. I feel no different about him than I did when camp began. He's moved his game forward." ... Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery on his quarterback, Dane Evans, who threw for 4,332 yards and 25 touchdowns last season as a junior. "It's his football team. He's been around here for a long time and he did a great job for us last season. We expect great things from him. He's worked very diligently on his craft and we'll be ready to loosen the reins on him this season and give him more freedom at the line of scrimmage."